Top 2 keepers in Premiership are Yanks

Yeah, right. Neither of them is as good as Jerzy Dudek at Liverpool. And on current form, Paul Robinson is just as good as them. Friedel looks like a good keeper to me, but I've never really rated Keller that much.

 

Did you get a chance to see Keller against ManU the other day?
If you did you might want to rate him, much.

 

Not. Even. Close.

 

Dudek has not made many of these types of mistakes in Premiership matches. Over the last year, fans from many clubs will admit he has been the class of the EPL. Many English fans puzzled by his poor form in the World Cup mentioned that he had no confidence in the Polish defense, so he was not able to trust his instincts and commit himself as he does for his club team.

I think that Kasey Keller is right up there too, but Shay Given and Paul Robinson are both in fine form. Newcastle has had some pretty poor results this year, but they would be much uglier if not for the Irishman.

 

Friedel is good.

Keller ain't bad either.

However both are far behind Cudicini.

 

OPTA ranks Keller the #1 keeper in the Premiership over the last 6 matches. Friedel is 10. Neither Dudek nor Paul Robinson made the top 10.

http://www.planetfootball.com/optamizer/totw.asp?PID=3&CPID=8&SID=3&LID=317&article=110461

 

That was a funny article above. I think it's meant to capitilize on the supposed subtle witt an irony you black adder[i/] fans enjoy so much. Really, an american youth w/ british ties? Oh yeah, that's already happened. "Calamity" James is like dracula 'cause he fears the cross, that's good material. This guy's doing a little tongue and cheek, that's all. Any insider would know that Keller has always been and will always be better than Friedel. Though I am puzzled how planetfootball.com put fabain bartez-the most overrated keeper(next to Chilevert & Campos) I've ever seen. I don't think anyone credits Given enough.

Dedek's not even in the top 10. Do you think that his record might have something to do w/ the expensive tallent playing in front of him? Just a guess.

It's so funny watching the Anglophiles get all defensive when someone pts out a chink in the mail suit.

 

You definitely have a case for Keller as #1. The OPTA rankings are a clear, objective measure of performances, and using that method he comes out #1. But if you use the same objective standard, you can't say Friedel is #2, but rather #10.

The US has 2 very good keepers. Let's just keep it at that.

 

I think on current form that Keller is #1 - and goodness knows that I wouldn't try to deny him any credit that he is due.

I was mainly responding to the criticism of Dudek based on the World Cup. The performance that he gave was not reflective of his club performances. Gianluigi Buffon did not play at his typical level in the World Cup either - but it was more of an aberration than a revelation of his true ability.

Liverpool does have a great defense (barring the last few results) - but it is hardly super-expensive. The total transfer fees of Traore, Henchoz, Hyppia, Xavier, Carragher, Arne Riise and Didi Hammann are on par with what Arsenal paid for Sol Campball (alone). Let alone $30 million dollar Rio Ferdinand.

And nearly every soccer commentator who watches the Premiership regularly will tell you that a big part of Liverpool's defensive success is the result of the organization that Dudek provides. He is also an excellent shot stopper.

I don't see how touting the quality of a Pole and an Irishman makes me an Anglophile, though.

I have always liked Kasey Keller. He is my favorite American Abroad, and I have always rated him as the best US keeper (although I don't fault Bruce Arena for his decision to go with Friedal and his great distribution skills). I hope that he is/becomes the best keeper in the EPL - I was just trying to be objective.

 

Ah, the voice of a bitter Liverpool fan.

 

I would probably rank Keller #1 the way he has played so far this season. I agree that Dudek is a fine keeper and deserves to be in the top 10 easily. I don't think Friedal is #2 at the moment.

 

I'll always say 'Super' Shay Given is the best, and was voted so last year by his fellow pros, he's played well this season but he's not near his best yet.

 

I would take Shay Given on my team any day. He is a great keeper. Given (no pun intended) Keller's current form I would rate him up Given right now. That's just right now though. Over the course of the season I would expect Given to out-rate Keller. A shame that United has had such bad luck this season so far, it takes away from the perception of the quality keeper that Given is.

 

With Kellers form though, he's gotta be pushing for the US number one shirt? I mean, alot of people wanted him in while he was in the reserves, now he's hit a rich vein of form, it's a tough call to make alright, you couldn't leave out Keller or Brad without having second thoughts, good problem to have though.

 

Keller is a good overall keeper and on some days, can be excellent one. He is an excellent shot stopper, which is his primary value to a team as his foot skills are absolutely atrocious. IMO, he is a sullen, selfish player who I wouldn't choose to have on my team. There's more to being a keeper than just stopping shots, (something that OPTA could never objectify), which is why, IMO again, he is nowhere near the best keeper in the EPL.

 

Ouch. Harsh dude. What about Kasey's decisiveness (when he comes off his line - he comes off fast and doesn't second guess)? What about the confidence he brings to his area? The Nats really seem to play more confidently when he is marshalling the defense. He is fabulous at dealing with high balls and preventing set piece goals. He has good hands (few rebounds) and good technique. He is pretty consistant. All of this in addition to the great reflex saves that he pulls out time and time again.

Yes, he lacks the counterattacking awareness and distribution that Friedal brings to the table, but day in and day out he is the best US keeper ever.

Don't forget that Brad Friedal has threatened to retire from the international side and moaned and complained when he wasn't getting to wear the number 1 for USA. Kasey was pretty patient at Tottenham last year and he waited until the end of the World Cup to open his trap. I think he especially wanted to play in the Germany match (after what happened in '98). And I think that is one match where Bruce might have been wise to go with him - even over the hot Friedal. I don't mean to criticize Bruce's perfectly justifiable decision, as it turned out pretty well. But with all of the corners and free kicks - I would have breathed a lot easier with Keller between the sticks.

Kasey Keller may not be the best, but he's hard to beat. Even in the EPL.

 

I bet some American has taken this article word for word without even a grasp of the humorous side.

Within the next month we'll hear some genius say something like "You brits are losing it, the USA has the two best keepers in your precious EPL, see it says so here..."

 

The specifics of whose the best don't bother me. That will always be a personal opinion. For me the important thing is that this discussion is actually taking place. Me I'm glad that there are three Yanks who are stars in their teams. KK, Freidel and Reyna. Shows growth in the US talent base. One hopes that we improve continuosly for many years more.

 

Not trying to be harsh...KK is a very good keeper, one of the best I've seen at reflex saves. I think he''s just above average on high balls. But again, there's more to being a world-class keeper than being an excellent shot-stopper. His attitude sucks, ever stop and think why he's never caught on with a top team? Or why his teams invariably give up lots of late goals (see Rayo '00 and Spurs early form this year)? People on these boards always blame it on a crappy defense, but KK has to shoulder some of the responsibility (he never seems to, does he?) Either he can't organize a defense for 90 or his defenders tend to ignore him, and with his selfish attitude it's probably a combination of both.

On second thought, yeah, I sound harsh; but that dude rubs me the wrong way

 

Friedel is fantastic, but I rate Robinson, Given, Dudek and Kirkland above Keller overall. That's not to say Keller isn't good, just I don't think he's great, despite his good form at the moment.

 

No, more the voice of someone who has actually seen all of the people being so wisely discussed here play! In real life!

I know, I know ... I just don't fit. You carry on ...

 

This would be a great comparison apart from the small fact that we didn't pay a penny for Campbell.